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P071. Madly in Love? Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence causes

Thu, September 4, 6:45 to 8:00pm, Other Venues, Poster Venue

Abstract

This study investigates the perceived causes of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Polish (Study 1) and British (Study 2) samples. IPV can be socially legitimized through mechanisms such as downplaying or victim-blaming. The reasons for this legitimization are rooted in various individual and socio-cultural factors which are reflected in narratives about IPV that link it with romantic themes.
In Study 1, Polish respondents (n = 62) read a newspaper article describing an IPV incident (physical violence toward the victim) without any information on the perpetrator’s motive. They were then asked to speculate on the reasons for the act. With the help of three independent judges, we identified the following key themes in the responses: the offender’s mental disorders, difficulties with emotion regulation, inherent nature and character, direct reaction to the victim’s behavior/ attitude, and socio-cultural context. Notably, 64.5% of participants referenced romantic motives in their explanations. These responses appeared within each of the aforementioned categories but were most common in explanations related to the offender’s problems with emotion regulation and reactions to the victim’s behavior.
Study 2 aimed to verify and compare the categories identified in Study 1 within a British sample (n = 150). Participants read a similar newspaper article describing an IPV incident and were then presented with the five categories. They were instructed to select all the predefined categories they believed explained the IPV act or indicate any other. Given that 4% of respondents mentioned a cause outside of the predefined categories, the developed taxonomy appears to accurately capture the perceived causes of IPV in this context.
In both the Polish and British samples, respondents frequently focused on the offender’s mental health and emotional state. This tendency is discussed in relation to IPV legitimization and the perception of violence as a medical issue rather than a social problem.

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